A fascination with flight

Tribune archive photo

Chicago engineer Octave Chanute was a little-known pioneer whose glider designs and experiments at the Indiana Dunes, between 1896 and 1898, served as inspiration to the Wright Brothers. Chanute, shown in this undated photo at Miller Beach, died in 1910.

Chicago engineer Octave Chanute was a little-known pioneer whose glider designs and experiments at the Indiana Dunes, between 1896 and 1898, served as inspiration to the Wright Brothers. Chanute, shown in this undated photo at Miller Beach, died in 1910. (Tribune archive photo)

Katherine Stinson learned to fly at age 16 and founded Stinson Aviation Co. with her mother, Emma. Flying out of Cicero Field, Stinson went on to be one of the best known stunt pilots and was the first woman to delivery air mail. Stinson is pictured in this 1915 photo, five years before her flying career grounded by tuberculosis. She died in 1977.

Katherine Stinson learned to fly at age 16 and founded Stinson Aviation Co. with her mother, Emma. Flying out of Cicero Field, Stinson went on to be one of the best known stunt pilots and was the first woman to delivery air mail. Stinson is pictured in this 1915 photo, five years before her flying career grounded by tuberculosis. She died in 1977. (Tribune archive photo)